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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



Chap, 
Shelf 



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„ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Verses, 



GEO. E. SMITH. 
CEFFIN, OHIO. 



COLUMBUS, OHIO : 

A. C. BKKLIN i: CO., PRINTERS, 

1893. 



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30231 




PK0E31. 

I'lc wr)o sccl<js n^id i')alurc s stores, 
WJifr) wor[r)lcss rubbisr), lincls richest ore; 
r^S. di-iyer, ir) old occar) s swell, 
I ocrctncr liods tl-je pearl and lr)e sr)ell : 
©o, an^id tl)esc jat^cies o] rr)y braii}, 
Oorr)e gen) oT lr)ouqr)t you n-)ay oblaii"). 



IX THE SUNLIGHT. 

We find, as the pathwa\' of life we travel throug'h, 
Scenes of rare beauty and pleasure, oft cross our view, 
We may wander away in hidden nooks alone, 
And still find pleasure, to others unknown. 

Thoug-h often dark clouds, there cometh sunlig-ht as well ; 
The warm sunlig-ht ! it banisheth many dark spell ; 
It conies to the weary, a g-lad messag^e of love, 
A joyous ray of hope, sent from heaven above. 

Those scenes of beaut}' and pleasure doth peace impart. 
The sunlig-ht of heaven bring-eth joy to the heart, 
So let our lives be brig-ht. joyous and free, 
And crowned with joy and sunshine, our paths will be. 



ONLY TRUST HIM. 

Struju-g'ling- with life's weary tide, 
Know, thy Father is at thy side, 
He, himself, will g^uard and g^uide. 
Only trust Him. 

Thoug-h thy heart should fail with fear 
As the darkness hovers near. 
He will bring" thee earnest cheer, 
Only trust Him, 

Work for good, and battle ill. 
Ever do the Master's will. 
He will all thy measure fill. 

Only trust Him. 

When at last, thy work is done, 
And thy race is fully run. 
He will welcome thee with "well done," 
Only trust Him. 



THY WILL BE DONE. 

Weak though I am, 

Thou Holy one, 
Still will I say, 

Thy will be done ! 

In joy or pain, 

My race I run. 
Thou art my rest, 

Thy will be done ! 

Hopes bright and fair, 
Soon, soon are gone. 
Help me to sa}" 

Thy will be done ! 

Sorrow's dark cloud 
May hide the sun. 
In faith I cry 

Thy will be done ! 



MY VERSES. 

Would that these verses of mine. 
Were flowers sweet and rare, 
A beauteous wreath for thee I'd twine 
And lay it on thy forehead fair. 

Would that these verses of mine, 
Were gfenis of wealth untold, 
I would deck thy form with jewels fine 
Thy fing^ers would circle with gfold. 

Would that these verses of mine, 
Were kisses warm and true, 
I'd waft them to thy cheek divine, 
And to thy lips of rosy hue ! 

Would that these verses of mine 
Were a charm of mag'ic rhyme. 
Then would I make my life and thine 
One blissful, eternal summertime. 



THE FUTURE. 

Tell me, what is in the future? 
Raise the curtain, let in the day. 
Let the brig-ht and g-leaming- sunlig-ht 
Drive the shadows all away. 

AVhat is waiting- for our taking- 

In the days just ahead ? 

Is there joy, or is there heart breaking, 

Tell me, ere the day be sped. 

Peace ! Hushed be all thy striving, 
All thy doubts, of joy or sorrow, 
We have cares enoug-h to-day. 
Seek not those of the morrow. 

"We cannot raise the veil. 

The mystic veil that is o'er us. 

Yet we know that g^lory awaits us. 

If we do the duty that is before us. 

11 



MY DARLING FAR AWAY. 

Oh my beautiful darlino- 

So far, far away, 
Listen to the chorus 

Of my fancy in its play. 

Soft carols the song' bird 

Its sweetest lay, 
It sings of my darling-. 

My darling- far away. 

The g-entle zephyrs 
In their murmurs say. 

None so fair or charming- 
As my darling' far away. 

The stars in their beauty 
Send down a brig-ht ray. 

And echo, my darling" is radiant. 
My darling- far away. 



But my heart is sad, 
In vain seeks to be g"ay, 

For oh ! I have no pleasure 
With, my darlino-, far away 



RESPICE FINEM. 

" Respice finem," reg^ard the end ! 
Well the ancient poet spake. 
Reg*ard the end, m}' honest friend, 
In all 3'ou undertake. 

Then, if clouds o'ercast, and rude be the blast 
Till day sinks into nig-ht, 
When at last, your life is past, 
Ivo ! the end thereof is lio'ht. 



A QUERY. 

Lulu, Lulu, Lu, 

Lovrng- and true ! 
Eyes so briofht 
What shall I write 
This summer's iiijj-ht 

Sweetheart to 3'ou ? 

Do you know 

My pen is slow 
To tell the way 
That every day 
A little lay 

AVith melody low — 

In my heart 

With mystic art 
Keeps sw^elling". 
With music welling-, 
Ever telling- 

A lover's part? 



Lulu, Lulu, Lu, 

Loving- and true ! 
If my heart was bold 
This story old 
Would soon be told 

Sweetheart to vou ! 



IX ABSEXX^E. 



Oh ! oft ni}' lono'inii- lips 

Kiss empty air, as I start 
From sweet dreams of love and thee I 

And a pang' comes to mv heart 
As I remember that we 

Are weary miles apart I 



REST. 

I soug"ht for thee, oh Rest, and found thee not ; 
I wandered in memory's halls, and thou wert not 
In imagination's g-org-eous palaces I strayed. 
But still, oh Rest, didst thou fade, 
From mortal sig^ht, from mortal ken 
Wast thou g-one, and from haunts of men 
I fled, and soug-ht in nature to find hope : 
Where the bud and blossom would ope 
To catch the kiss of the dew as it fell ; 
Where the forest joined the mead and dell, 
Where the wild torrent in thunder dashed. 
Where the waves in fierce commotion clashed. 
Where the katydid and the whippo'will sang-. 
Where fierce the eag-le's hig-h note rang-. 
Where the mountain crag-s appeared, 
In the haunts by mortals feared, 
I soug-ht thee in vain, oh Rest ! 
Thou camest not to my aching- breast. 



I cried, oh, zi'hcrc shall Rest be found ? 
I listened, nature gfave no sound, — 
Back to the dwelling- place of man 
I came, and essayed to span 
And find, in his whole domain 
That, in nature, I soug-ht for in vain. 
I counseled with the sag"e and the seer, 
With the rig-id monk and hermit austere, 
Soug-ht in poesy, flowing- and free, 
Naug-ht gave trace, oh Rest of thee. 
The paths of science, vainly I trod — 
But an humble christian pointed to God, 
His ways I soug-ht, and at His feet 
Cast myself, and there found complete 
Pardon, comfort, joy and peace profound. 
Then I cried, oh Rest, thou art found ! 



17 



ONE PEARL FOR ME. 

The world is e'en full wide 

And many a treasure 
Is brouo-ht by land and tide 

To give fond pleasure. 

There are wondrous gems, fair 

As the stars on high, 
There are beauties as rare 

As the tints of the sky. 

I care not for the store 

Of their wealth or treasure, 

Naught from the distant shore 
Can give me pleasure. 

One gem that is rarest, 

One pearl so true 
Oh give me my dearest. 

My Susie, my Sue. 



A PLAINT. 

I am so weary, 
Sad and dreary. 

I hail each day 

As another wave 
That on the way 

To the waiting- ofrave, 
Fast hurrieth me. 
I welcome thee 

With th}^ wave, eternity. 

The dreary da}" 
Has passed way. 

For God above 

Peace hath g-iven, 
Througfh his love, 
The hope of heaven 
Has come to me. 
I welcome thee 

With thy hope, eternity ! 



DARE TO DO RIGHT. 

Dare to do rig-ht ! ever do rig-ht ! 
Rise above temptation, and show thy mig^ht. 
Dash down the wine cup, its poison beware, 
If weak in thyself, seek thy God in prayer. 

Dare to do right ! ever do rig-ht ! 
Beware of the poison's deadly blig^ht. 
With all your power, your soul, your mind 
Dare to do rigfht, and sweet peace you will find. 

Dare to do rigfht ! ever do right ! 

Be one of the thousands who figdit 

The dread monster of drink, the fiend of woe, 

Which bring-eth to young- and old, overthrow. 

Dare to do rig-ht ! ever do rig-ht ! 
Trust in thy Saviour, win a crown so brig-ht. 
Fig-ht with the demon, and ever look up. 
With this your motto, away with the cup ! 

20 



HYMN. 

Jesus, as we g-ather here 
Thy blessing- we implore ; 

Grant on each, we humbly pray, 
Thy spirit to outpour. 

See us, on life's troubled wave. 
Tossed by each swelling- tide ; 

Be thou with us, ever near 
To comfort and to g-uide. 

Mav we on thy arm recline, 
Holding- to thy dear side, 

For the way is dark and drear, 
The waters, deep and wide. 

Be thou ever, ever near us, 
Till our life's voyag-e is past, 

Then, oh Lord Jesus, take us 
To thy dear self at last. 

21 



A WOMAN'S FACE. 

There was a heavy sorrow, 

Black as darksome nig-ht, 
It clouded o'er my onward way 

With strange o'ermasterino- mig"ht. 

In vain I sought to escape it, 

In vain I sought to flee. 
Where'er I went it followed, 

Nor came there peace to me. — 

The dark cloud vanished. 

The shadow passed away, 
I know not how, or why. 

Only, I was happy that day. 

It was through no word spoken 
That the chang-e I could trace, 

But only from the gleaming- 

Of love, from a sweet woman's face. 



WAITING AND LONGING. 

I am waitino", and I am longfino". 

For my waiting to be o'er, 
For the day to hasten onward 

When in our open cosy cottag'e door. 
There shall stand to welcome me. 

With g-lad and lovino^ tone, 
A fond and beauteous maiden, 

Whom I'll proudly call, my own. 



SOMEBODY'S COMING. 

Some one is coming- ! somebody's coming- ! 

Be still m}' heart ! wh}' 

Throb and beat with such sweet mad joy ? 

Oh, some one is coming- ! somebody's coming- I 

And that is the reason why 

My heart is filled with such joy ! 

23 



IT YET SHALL BE. 

Many sad words we read and hear, 
Many sad words when we need cheer, 
Yet 'midst the g-loom a ray I see, 
'Tis in the words— it yet shall be. 
They tell me of hope's fruition, 
Joys blooming" in fields elysian, 
And I rise with confiding- trust 
While all my g-loom sinks into dust. 

Oh, these sweet words ! to them are given 

Power to make on earth a heaven ; 

When doubting- all, I seek the key, 

I find it in, — it yet shall be. 

My web of life I then resume 

And with the lig-ht weave in the gdoom. 

Seeing amid life's drearest way 

A g-leam of light, a heavenly day. 

24 



Let future days bring- heavy care 

With this bright hope, I'll not despair. 

But ever sail o'er life's dark sea, 

Confidino- in— it yet shall be. 

Yes, when on earth my toil is o'er, 

A home I reach on yonder shore, 

There with the blest, with sweet melody 

I will sing- — it now, and evermore shall be ! 



TO ELMA. 



A sparkling spring- by the way ; 

A modest flower by the rill ; 
A merry bird with sweetest lay ; 

A woman with a tempered will. 

Bright mirror of the sky. 

Beautiful bud, of tint divine, 

Birdie sweet, with liquid eye, 
Bonnie maid, will vou be mine ? 



REGRETS. 

Alone I wander in the deserted street, 
Yet I hear the tread of unseen feet, 
Unseen hands from the shadows reach 
And frio-htful voices out the silence screech. 

In the busy crowd I urg^e my way, 

I listen to the song- bird's merry lay, 

Yet a heavy woe on my heart I feel, 

And vain reg^rets throug^h my memory steal. 

Oh vain reg^rets ! Oh bitter past ! 
Are ye always and ever to last ? 
Cometh there no g^lad reprieve. 
Will ye never, never leave ? 

Will ye follow on to death's dark door. 
Will ye g; reet me on the other shore ? 
Have ye no limit, must I forever be 
Tortured and cursed by thoug^hts of thee ? 

26 



ONE MOMENT. 

Was it real ? that moment supreme. 
When radiant as the star in the sky. 

You stood b}^ my side with the g*leani 

Of heart's truest love sparkling- your eye. 

And is it over? was it a meteor's flame 
Only flashing- for a moment's space? 

Was it but a delusive fancy that came 
To tempt me to a fruitless chase ? 

Was it but a dream of what might be 
Only to vanish with the coming* dawn. 

A magic picture from over the bright sea. 
By tricksy fairy's pencil drawn ? 

Oh, it z^'as real ! our hearts met and never 
Through all the changing years of time. 

Will there be the power that can sever 

The love acknowledged, in that moment sublime. 



TO THE EVENING STAR. 

Bright evening; star ! on nig-ht's mystic floor 

Thy aureole of splendor pressing-, 
Tell us of the friends who no more 

Respond to our fond caressing-. 

When day's g-olden oriflame has set afar, 
And thy kindred g-ems are g-leaming", 

Have you ne'er caugfht from the gfates ajar, 
Some lig-ht from heaven outstreaming ? 

Have brigfht angel pinions ne'er flashed 

Across thy pathway in space, 
Have you ne'er caught as they passed 

A glimpse of some heavenly face ? 

Have you ne'er heard sweet voices calling ? 

Seen soft eyes grieving- o'er our delay, 
White hands outstretched to keep us from falling, 

And leading us safely through life's dark way ? 

28 



Oh star of even ! too coldl}- thou art shining-, 
Too cold to heed aug^ht of our sorrow, 

Then hushed be our queries, stilled our repining", 
Trusting" we wait for God's sure to-morrow. 



ON A BIRTHDAY. 

JAN. 7. 

Let me whisper to your heart, be bold ! 
And wait the future's dawn of g'old ; 
And when the Father, in love shall sa}^ 
To the death ang'el, close her mortal da}^ 
And bring- her to me ! 

Grant, with thy armor firm and strong-. 
Bravely figfhtingf ag-ainst all wrong-, 
Triumphant over doubt and sin. 
You may meet Him amidst the din 

Of truth's great victory ! 

29 



THE KING NE'ER SMILED AGAIN. 

The king- sat by the ocean shore 
And watched the chano-ing* tide, 

The waves were high, and tierce the wind 
Swept o'er the water's wide. 

With angry surg'e the billows broke 

Upon the rocky coast. 
And dashed their foam upon the land 

With proud, detiant boast. 

A ship came speeding- o'er the main 

Before the tempest's blast. 
Its sails were riven, its rudder g^one. 

And broken every mast. 

The crew on board the doomed ship 

Cried to their g^ods in prayer. 
The king- on the shore, prayed for the ship, 

His darling- son was there ! 

30 



But onward sped the fated boat, 
The prayers of all were in vain ; 

The ship went down with all on board — 
The kino- ne'er smiled ao'ain. 



LINES. 



I had fouj^ht all the weary day, 
In a strug-le of rig-ht against sin, 

In a conflict where the leaders are wrong-ed, 
And the saddest, are those who win. 

I had stood till the twiligdit came. 
To self, and my loved one true, 

But I was bruised, and wounded and faint. 
And my heart, dear one, lonufed for you. 

And then, at the close of the weary day 
When my pulse beats seemed to cease, 

You came in spirit, and stood by my side. 
And brought me life, and joy and peace. 



A GRKETING. 

To you, dear one. this oreeting- I brintjf, 
To robe with joy some passing- hour, 

And soaring- hig-h on sunlit wing 

With choicest g"ifts, I would thee dower. 

I need not bring- thee beauty's crown, 
For thou art fair and lovely now, 

But strive to shield thee in the years adown, 
And drive all shadows from thy brow. 

I g-ive thee long- life, and perfect health. 
With friendship's priceless treasure. 

And happiness, in all its richest wealth 
To afford thee constant pleasure. 

And, love I would have thy life ever hold, 
(I breathe this my heartfelt prayer) 

With all of this life's purest gold. 

And God's love shielding* thee everywhere ! 



SHADOWS. 

What shall I say to my throbbing- heart. 
How shall I bid its g-loom depart, 
How bring- peace to my troubled soul 
Causing- its g-rief to backward roll ? 

Heavy the cloud that hang-s o'er my life, 
Bitter and hard is the weary strife. 
No ray of hope, m^^ spirit to cheer. 
Faith is lost, all, all seems drear. 

No beauty I see in nature around, 
No music hear in any sound, 
Lonely and sad I wander alone, 
Seeking- for bread, I find but a stone. 

With ang-uish untold, I view the past. 
Hopeless to the future my g-aze I cast. 
Happiness banished, hopes all fled. 
Vain is my life, would I were dead ! 



LIGHT. 

Many have trod in pathways of shade, 
Many for death have wearily prayed, 
And yet to their hearts has come relief. 
And joy and gladness have banished g-rief. 

Then, oh my heart, is there not hope. 
In darkness of grief why longer g-rope ? 
Find as did they, the source of this lig'ht. 
And let thy life and thy future be brig-ht. 

Thoug-h the clouds in the sky darkly appear. 
The sun shines behind them, full and clear ; 
Thoug-h the cross of thy life is bitter and sad, 
A crown of joy awaits thee, be gflad ! 

If other lone hearts you cheer and make brig^ht. 

If from sad lives you banish the nig^ht. 

And in all, by thy Saviour be led, 

No longer will hopes be blasted, or happiness dead. 



ONLY A DREAM. 

I am dreamint^' of the days lonj*' since ^"oiie by, 
When I in m\' early manhood's hope and pride, 

Strong- in the determination to do, or die, 

Left home and friends, and you, to wander far and wide. 

I see 3'ou now, as then you stood. 

Out beneath the old apple tree's boug^h, 

A g"irl, just budding- into womanhood. 

With earnest, thoug^htful, fair, clear brow. 

The earth, methinks, was fairer then, than now. 
And everything- seemed brig-ht and young- ; 

The soft west wind blew cool on your brow. 
And a robin over 3'our head sweetly sung-. 

The sun kissed your lig-ht brown tresses, 
Painted with warm color your soft cheek, 

Ling-ered around you with soft caresses. 

As we waited for words we could not speak. 



We parted, only a look and a faltering- clasp, 
And then — ah me, the fast fleeting- years ! 

I feel on my heart string-s the g-rasp 

Of something-, that starts e'en now the unbidden tears. 



Far from the orchard, and the little winding- stream. 
Far from the quiet of the dear old home, 

1 wandered, o'er wild western crag's seen cataracts 
g-leam, 
And watched Atlantic's billows wildly foam. 



I have sailed o'er the northern inland seas. 
And down the Mississippi's bosom broad ; 

I have felt from the southern g-ulf the breeze. 
And hig-h on mountain top have trod. 



I have stood in the busy cit}', all ag'low 
With its surg-ing-, seething" rush and roar ; 

In trackless wastes watched wild birds come and go. 
And settle to their nests when their day flig-ht was o'er. 

36 



I have faced life and death, and in the weary figfht 
Have struo-o led all the long-, long- day, 

Where often wrong- has seemed to be for right. 
And 'twere but bitter mockery to pray. 



I have seen faith die out like a candle spark, 
And dark despair open like a yawning- g^rave. 

Then hope has come like a welcome bark 
To shipwrecked man on the ocean wave. 



And it lifted my soul to a higher life. 
My g-aze its steady lig-ht ever beholding-, 

And I took my part in the daily strife. 
Patiently waiting- the future's unfolding. 



I still dream on — a strange perchance 
Brings me to your open door, 

Will there be a word, a welcome glance 
Recalling- the bright davs of vore ? 



The long", long- years have taugfht me much, 
I have borne unmoved the bitter smart 

Of failure in success, yet a friendly touch 

Would set wildly vibratino- the chords of my heart. 

Oh, slowly I come to the heart's sweet portal. 
And I knock, oh so g^ently, entreating- 

And pleading-, true love is immortal — 

Oh what is my answer, what my greeting'? 

I dream my dream, but the curtain is drawn, 

My fate in a mystery concealing-. 
And wears the future a smile or a frown, 

I have no way of revealing-. 



38 



SPEAK OUT. 

Have you a friend whose lovino- wa3's 

Bring" g'ladness to your heart? 
Speak out the words of tender praise 

Ere yet the days depart. 

If h)ne and drear her days, may be 

A ra}' of ligfht and cheer you bring-, 
If happiness freig^hts each hour with gflee, 

Still happier measures you may help her sing-. 

If you see you friend gTow weary 

And faltering" in her duty, stand. 
Reach out, and make her work less dreary 

With your friendly helpful hand. 

Then speak the kind word and g"ive the friendh' touch. 

Whenever and wherever you can ! 
It may be little, it may be much. 

But it makes you a better man. 

39 



DIES IR.^:. 

Doubt not but the day is coming-, 
Ere we are ready for its dawn, 
Locked as we are in ease benumbing-, 
Only looking" for care to be gfone. 

That dreadful day will soon be here, 
Mig-hty day of wrath and fear ! 

Read we now the sig^ns arigfht, 

Naug-ht but truth will prov^e our stay ; 

Sound the warning- while 'tis lig'ht, 
Seek the rig-ht while 3"et ye may. 



I drea:med. 



Lonely I sat and dreamed 

One pleasant moonlit nig-ht — 

Till there came to my raptured sight 

The fairest of maidens, it seemed. 

I won her, by affection's mig-ht 

Embraced her — alas ! I dreamed. 



A BAPTISMAL SCENE. 

Within the church, on Sabbath da}' 

Before the altar stood, 
Clad in the simple, neat array 

Of modest maidenhood, 

One, o'er whose head the summer's glow 

Of passing- years had cast 
A radiance rare, as if to show 

How innocent beauty, may last. 

Before the silent cono-reg'ation 

At the carved altar rail, 
She stood, with calm, sweet resignation. 

Pure as the lily pale. 

From the stained windows, the lig"ht streamed throug^h, 
And a g^olden beam of sunshine floods her hair. 

Gives her fair soft cheek a roseate hue. 

While the man of God breathes a consecrating- prayer. 



Then, as the crystal water sparkled in the sun,- 
" Marie, I baptize thee in the name 

Of the Father, and of the Son, 
And of the Holy Ghost ; Amen !'" 



With brown eyes raised to heaven. 

She seemed all unconscious of the throng, 

As if, to her soul was g-iv^en 

To hear seraphic angel choral song-. 



Oh ! simple act of consecration, 
Oh ! ordinance and pledge of faith. 

Oh ! sign and token of a new^ creation 
That triumphs over sin and death. 



Oh child of God, throug'h future years, 
May thy life be ever crowned with good. 

And when thy translated spirit before God appears 
Hear His welcome, " she hath done what she could. 



42 



A MONODY. 

Gently, softly, I hear a strain 
Kchoingf back, a sweet refrain 
Comes in the moonlight, from the plain 
Borne on the clover-scented air. 
Full of love, and free from care 
Cometh the echo of song- and prayer. 
It fills with dreamy lang-uor my breast, 
A sweet content, a comfort blest, 
A quiet sleep, a perfect, peaceful rest. 



Awake, and loosed from slumber's chain, 
Kxulting- and throbbing- throug-h each vein 
The coursing- blood bounds and leaps ag"iin. 
'Tis a shout of g-ladness, a joyous cheer 
Coming- o'er the meadows, strong- and clear, 
Stirs with new life, as it g-reets the ear. 
It bears a g'lad messag'e from the skies. 
It bids me from my dreamy lang-uor rise 
And seek to obtain, earth's dearest prize. 



What then is It, that of the earth 
Is of the greatest, dearest worth ? 
'Tis that to which love gMves birth. 
L/ove, we crown thee, for thou 
Art worthy to have thy brow 
Decked with the laurel bough, 
Decked with the immortal green, 
For all that is, or ever hath been 
Bows before thee, and crowns thee Oueen. 



SWKKT LIPS. 



From flowers sweet, the honey bee sips. 
But finds nothincr half so sweet as this — 

The dew that rests on my dear one's lips. 
Sweet lips, just waiting' for a kiss ! 

Sweet lips, they with the roses vie ! 

Had I g-ems untold and jewels rare, 
I would give them all without a sigfh. 

To pluck the kiss that is nestling* there ! 



TWILIGHT REVERIES. 

What comes o'er my spirit to-night ? 
What so fills me with delight? 
At sunset's hour a briofht 
Joyous thrill, with tender mig-ht 
Fills all my soul. 

In a distant land my spirit bride 

Is resting" in the even-tide, 

And she thinks of me, who from her side 

A bitter, cruel fate doth divide 

As far as either pole. 

Her thoug-hts are of me, and a g-low 
Spreads o'er her cheek, as the snow 
Is tingfed, when sinking- low 
O'er the hills the setting- sun doth throw 
A g-ood nigfht gdance o'er all. 

Oh, love maketh itself known 
Thougfh far distant from its own, 



In busy crowd, or in quiet, alone. 
As from its hig-h and nii^»-hty throne 
We hear it's magfic call. 

Far away my spirit bride is, now, 
And watching" the red sunset's g'low 
With beaming" eyes and radiant brow 
Her thoug"hts throug'h the distance g'o — 
And she thinks of me ! 

Yes, when o'er the western hills 
The sun disappears, and twilight fills 
The earth, and a solemn hush stills 
The sound of all, save the rills 

That murmur soft and free. 

Then, together, my darling bride and I 
In loving thought to each other fly. 
And in communion sweet defy 
The power of an eternity 

To tear our souls apart. 

Our thoughts together run 

As when two separate streams, gone 

46 



Alone from their founts, are won 
By each other, and uniting- in one 
Fh)\v with one heart. 

Oh, love conies to me to-nigfht 
And so fills me with delig-ht. 
It floods my soul with rosy light. 
It moves me with its ma,i>-ic mig-ht. 

My love, my darling- bride. 



HELP. 



I stood face to face with sorrow. 

And saw to its depths its bitter shade. 
And I grew so lone and sad, 

I cried to heaven for aid. 
And e'en while my cry was ascending- 

(So quickly (lod listens to prayer,) 
His help, and His grace He gave me, 

The sorrow I was able to bear. 



47 



TO THE SNOW. 

Ivig-htly fly, lio-htly fly. 

O'er the meadows, thro' the sky, 

Tiny snowflake. 

Tiny snowflake — 
Imag-e of innocence bright, 
Ever pure beauteous and light — 

Do you know 

Beautiful snow. 
Over the meadows as you g'o, 
Sometimes I long with thee to fly, 
Through the deep and azure sky, 

Wafted about. 

In and out, 
Catching smiles from every one. 
Kissing all — oh what fun ! 



LULU. 

Awake at midnig-ht's hour, 

I wander forth and outpour 

My heart in breathings low 

And soft to her, whose love I know 

Is constant, firm, and true. 

Oh mv love, I come to you. 

Be thou, now my theme. 

Thy love, of inspiration the stream ! 
In the still arms of nig-ht. 
Lulu, my heart's delig-ht 
My loved one is reposing- ; 
Watched by ang-els, whose closing- 
Pinions, keep during- the hour 
Of sleep, g-uard o'er her fairy bower. 

Lulu is fair, as at dawn 

The clouds in the sk}', 

Brig-ht. as on the lawn 

The dew crystals lie. 

4'> 



Lulu is fair, as the daisy 
Hiding' in secret dells, 
She is sweet as the roses are. 
Where the honey bee fills its cells. 
As the sun in midday splendor 
Warms the earth below, 
So doth Lulu's dear love 
Fill my heart with cheerful glow. 
As the moon, all serene and fair 
Sends her silver rays, soft beaming-. 
So Lulu's love, on my heart 
Sends it mild ligfht gfleaniing*. 
Wild and rug'gfed the scene, 
Far and near, on either hand 
Rise mountain cliffs, green 
Clothed their sides and grand 
They tower. Nestling down. 
Half hid from passing view. 
And sheltered by large rocks, brown 



And bare, a little cottag-e, 'neath the blue 

Haze of hovering- sky, stood, and here 

In the cool autumn of the year 

I met Lulu, nor one moment hesitate 

Did we, with each other to go 

And seek our future fate. 

In our search for happiness below. 

The brig-ht sun in the west 

Was sinking- down to rest ; 

He had his last 

Good nig-ht glance cast 

O'er the earth and threw 

A rosy g-low o'er the blue 

Sky. The shades of nig-ht 

Drew on, the moon's pale ligfht 

Came with radiance fair 

And hushed was the evening- air. 

Such a nig-ht, when all around 

There was not a sound 



The solemn silence to break. 

A time when life will take 

On new meaning", and new inspiration 

Is g-ained by calm contemplation. 

Long- had I wandered, far 

From home ; as a beacon star 

Hope had led me my journey on 

And now, at last I was shown 

Lulu, and we two, together 

Would onward gfo, to weather 

Any storm that o'er our pathway came, 

Keeping- ever lit, love's steady flame. 

Oh the wild joy, as by my side 

You stood, my loved, my darling bride. 

We left home, and friends 

With the feeling-, love lends 

To such parting-s, joy and g-rief 

Comming-led, yet neither chief. 

Lulu and I, we two. 



Onward our journey pursue, 

The journey of life, and I ween 

A fairer country was never seen 

Than on either hand 

Lined our path, (irand 

Was the view, to left, to right 

Noug-ht was there in the sig-ht 

Thoug-h wide extending far, 

Noug-ht its beauty to mar. 

The fields were clothed with flowers. 

Sweet birds sang- in rosy bowers, 

Gentle zephyrs whispered low 

Swaying- the branches to and fro : 

My love and I were together, and forgot 

So pleasant was our lot 

To search out, to find the way 

Wherein happiness might lay, 

And unnoticed and unsought 

It to our lives was brought. 



In our journey we were taug"ht, 
That doing- our duty as we oug-ht. 
And cheerfully, day by da}^ 
Pursuing- the even tenor of our way, 
With lovingr hearts united 
(In enduring- truth plig^hted) 
There would come, dear and sweet, 
Happiness to us, full and complete. 

With my heart on my lips I kiss my love. 
And speak to her with words so dear 

For she leads me, and points to joys above. 
And ever is near me, my soul to cheer. 

As when on a fair autumnal morn 

The wind rustles throug-h the ripened corn 

Carrying- on its wingfs so lig'ht 

Sweet content and cheerfulness brig-ht, — 

The gfrowing- gfrain to perfection hastens on, 

Unmindful of all till its work be done ; 

54 



The trees of the forest for ag-es have stood 

And patience has coursed in their blood, 

As serenely and calmly, their branches wide 

The}" have spread, and proudly defied 

The frosts of winter, the summer's heat. 

And the tempests, that in anger have beat 

In wild, fierce and still fiercer blast 

Ag-ainst them for centuries past ; 

The hills, that upward doth lift 

Their heads among the clouds that shift 

From point to point, ever seem 

E'en amid storms, calm as a dream ; 

As nature, in her varying moods, 

Her sunshine and shadow, calms and floods. 

Amid all the scenes that o'er her range, 

Is ever nature, and knoweth no change, 

So, amid all the scenes of our earthly lot 

My love for Lulu changeth not ! 

Oh my darling, my pet, my sweet. 



If each moment I could rest in your arms 

Loving-ly letting- our warm lips meet ! 

I linger, entranced by your charms, 

Your g-races of form and soul, 

My heart leaps beyond control 

And sing's with g^lad and joyous tone. 

Over and over ag^ain, thou art mine. 

And in your heart, my own 

Hears this echo — " yes, I am thine ! " 

And, dear, as 1 ling^er by your side 

Each moment so precious and sweet 

Ivike the flow of the ocean's tide 

Life's cares vanish, my joy is complete ; 

And I g-aze on your sweet face 

Rejoicing- in my happy lot. 

And my heart thrilled with your g-race, 

Secure in your love, all else is forgot. 

In my dreams, there cometh to me, 

Evoked from the mystic unseen. 



56 



The loveliest of all — sweet thoug"hts of thee, 

Lij^hting- my heart with pleasure keen. 

As the pearly lig-ht of closing- da}'^ 

Mantling- the earth, doth its mellow ray 

Round thee throw, crowning- thy beauty brig-ht, 

Grant that in thy hour of peaceful rest, 

Stealing- among- thy fancies lig-ht, 

Ever the thoug-ht of me, may iill thy breast. 

For, dear one, wherever I may be 

My heart is ever illumined by thee. 

Dear is my Lulu to me, 
With her eyes so true, and brig-ht 
As laug-hing- with merry delig'ht 
They look with love upon me, 

A vision wondrous sweet ! 

My Lulu is g-ood and fair. 
Her lips rosy are. 



Fit only for kisses are, 
And sweet beyoiad compare, 

So then, let our lips meet ! 

Oh, who is there, who too hig^h 

Our happy life can praise, 

Jo}^ and peace both do vie 

To bless us all our days. 

Fondly I stand ; before me. 

Around about, and o'er me 

A spirit haunts the nig-ht. 

Oh ! take form and to my sight 

Disclose thyself. Weave me of sound 

A chain of song-, until around. 

Sparkling- with jo3'ous melody free, 

The air shall echo with merry g^lee. 

Sing-, oh sing- of Lulu and I, 

Let your glad choral ascend on hig'h. 

Sing-, my need of her how g-reat. 

How deep my claim and share in her fate. 



The course of our lives runs smooth and never 

Has come aug;ht that had power to sever 

Our souls from each other apart. 

For each bears in the inmost heart 

The imag-e of the other ; more close 

Than the love that mothers disclose, 

Is the love that has bound us, 

Contention ne'er hath found us. 

Day follows day with hastening- tread, 

Nig-ht after nig-ht fast onward sped. 

The iov of morning- have not time 

To fade, ere the noonday chime, 

Is heard, and evening's employ 

Is but to continue the perfect joy 

Of the day, and recurring- nig-ht 

But prolong-s a life of rare delig-ht. 

As the river, througfh continent pushing- 

Toward the wide sea ever rushing-. 

When at last, the sea's broad breast 



59 



Is g-ained, strives no more, but sinks to rest. 

So we, have reached the sea. 

The calm sea, the smooth sea, 

Nor doubtingf, nor fearino-, have rode 

Tog-ether in peace, and blest is our abode ! 

I have stood on mountain heig^ht 
And g-azed on scenes that excite 
All the emotions of pleasure and joy. 
And rapturous delig-ht, where coy 
Nature threw open to widest extent 
Her treasures, and earth and sky blent 
In one gTandest of unions, ting-ed 
With the rarest of colors, the clouds wing-ed 
Their flig-ht ; the earth below. 
No lang-uag-e can describe the gflow 
Of impassioned, soul-thrilled content 
That by the scene, to me was sent; 
K'en so back throug-h the years, 
The rapturous love of Lulu appears. 



And as I g-aze backward our journey o'er 
I clasp her ag-ain as fondly as of yore. 
I stand with her and behold 
The shifting- years of the past unfold. 
The mag-ic of her eyes beaming- 
Sends my thoug-hts a roaming, 
Casts on all a g-racious seeming", 
Joys breaks in pleasure's g-loaming-. 
Her voice, when on my ear it doth fall, 
Like a fairy tone sweet and low. 
Those faultless tones, like an elfin call 
They follow and find me wherever I g-o. 
And oh the pleasure, the joy to my heart 
Lulu's constant love, doth ever impart. 
It filleth my life, my body and soul 
With a peace that never can backward roll. 
And truer than all earthly vows spoken 
Our wedded love, ne'er shall be broken. 
Yes, 'tis the firmest and clearest of truth. 



61 



We love, and loving- in sooth 

We ever shall be, for love doth not die ; 

It is immortal, and lives beyond the sky. 

And in the beyond, increased a thousand fold. 

Beyond the fair portals, the "fates of gfold. 

With rapture supreme, with joy untold, 

My Lulu, my wife, I forever shall hold. 



APR so ^899 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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